U.S. patent application number 11/024205 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-29 for system for synchronously controlling multiple devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ulead Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Chin-Chou Chang, Wei-Ting Hsieh.
Application Number | 20060143327 11/024205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36613087 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060143327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsieh; Wei-Ting ; et
al. |
June 29, 2006 |
System for synchronously controlling multiple devices
Abstract
The present invention discloses a system for synchronously
monitoring and controlling multiple media devices, such as the
DVD-RW drive, the music player, the TV tuner, the DVD player, etc.
The system includes a user interface in form of a polyhedron like a
cube, and one surface of the polyhedron is able to present the
operation status of each media device which is coupled to the media
center of the system. To demonstrate the operation statuses, the
indicator lights with distinguishable colors could be applied.
Besides, the way of operation status expression may further include
the preview window and the progress bar. With the system,
especially the user interface thereof, the user is able to monitor
and control a great amount of media devices synchronously and
instantly in a convenient and simple way.
Inventors: |
Hsieh; Wei-Ting; (Tainan
City, TW) ; Chang; Chin-Chou; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUSNER & JAFFE;HIGHLAND PLACE SUITE 310
6151 WILSON MILLS ROAD
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
OH
44143
US
|
Assignee: |
Ulead Systems, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36613087 |
Appl. No.: |
11/024205 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/18 ;
348/E5.102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4363 20130101;
H04L 12/2803 20130101; H04N 21/4227 20130101; H04N 21/4312
20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04L 12/282 20130101; H04N 5/44513
20130101; H04N 21/44231 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101; H04N
21/485 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/018 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/00 20060101
G06F003/00 |
Claims
1. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable
instructions for synchronously controlling at least one device by
performing the following, comprising: detecting a connection status
between a media center and said device; obtaining an operation
status of said device, wherein said operation status is updated in
a predetermined period; generating an object to present said
operation status on a user interface, wherein said user interface
is displayed on a displayer coupled to said media center; and
showing a controlling panel and content of a selected device on
said object of said user interface, wherein said object includes at
least two surfaces presenting at least two kinds of
information.
2. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said operation status is presented by a distinguishable
color, a progress bar, or a preview window.
3. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said object includes a virtual rotatable three-dimensional
object which has a first surface showing said operation status and
a second surface showing said controlling panel and said content of
said selected device.
4. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 3,
wherein said object is rotated when said selected device is
selected.
5. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 3,
wherein said virtual rotatable three-dimensional object includes a
polyhedron or a ball.
6. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 5,
wherein said polyhedron includes a pentahedron, a cube, a square
pyramid, a prism, or an octahedron.
7. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said media center includes a computer or an apparatus with
capability of controlling every said device.
8. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said device includes a CD-RW drive, a DVD-RW drive, a
DVD+RW drive, a Blu-ray drive, a VCD/DVD player, a DVD recorder, a
TV tuner, a MP3 player, a photo viewer, or any other media
player.
9. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein at least one of said devices are coupled to said media
center through a network.
10. The computer-readable storage medium as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said storage medium includes a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a
floppy disc, a hard disc, or memory.
11. A system for synchronously controlling at least one device,
which comprises: a media center for controlling said device coupled
thereto; a user interface generator coupled to said media center
for generating a user interface; an object generator coupled to
said media center for generating an object on said user interface,
wherein a first surface of said object presents an operation status
of said device and said operation status is updated in a
predetermined period; a displayer coupled to said media center for
showing said user interface; and an input apparatus coupled to said
media center for selecting a selected device, wherein a second
surface of said object presents a control panel and content of said
selected device as said selected device is designated via said
input apparatus.
12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said operation
status is presented by a distinguishable color, a progress bar, or
a preview window.
13. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said object is a
virtual rotatable three-dimensional object.
14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said object is
rotated as said selected device is selected.
15. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said virtual
rotatable three-dimensional object includes a polyhedron or a
ball.
16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said polyhedron
includes a pentahedron, a cube, a square pyramid, a prism, or an
octahedron.
17. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said media center
includes a computer or an apparatus with capability of controlling
every said device.
18. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said device
includes a CD-RW drive, a DVD-RW drive, a DVD+RW drive, a Blu-ray
drive, a VCD/DVD player, a DVD recorder, a TV tuner, a MP3 player,
a photo viewer, or any other media player.
19. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said device is
coupled to said media center through a network.
20. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said input
apparatus includes a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch pad, a
remote controller, or a writing pad.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a system for controlling
devices, especially for synchronously and instantly controlling and
monitoring multiple media devices, such as the DVD/CD burner, the
MP3 player, the DVD/VCD player, the DVD recorder, or the TV
tuner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recently, people are provided with more and more media
devices for entertaining or facilitating their life. With these
devices, the user could enjoy high quality movies, keep large
amount of data, or record favorite TV programs. Each media device
may work independently or be controlled by other instrument, such
as the computer. For example, the DVD player could play the movies
in a DVD without support of other instruments, though a displayer
such as a LCD is still required. In the other hand, a DVD-RW drive
installed in the computer could also play the content of a DVD with
the assistant that computer. A use of audio-visual information
presentation is advocacy. The use of visual media can provide
dramatic effects. For this reason, audio-visual presentations
should be as unencumbered as possible with technology effect. If
the presentation is poorly designed, it may lose the audience's
attention. The computer system may provide additional tools in both
the creation and delivery of an effective presentation.
[0003] To manage multiple devices, a computer is usually required,
and the devices may constitute a part of the computer.
Conventionally, each device is associated with an application, for
instance, a burn application for a DVD-RW drive. These applications
generally have their own user interfaces individually, that is, an
application needs a window in Windows.RTM. operation system
(Windows.RTM.) is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation).
Hence, quite a few applications would be invoked if plural media
devices are in use at the same time. In such a situation, the user
has to switch one user interface to another again and again in
order to monitoring the operation status of each media device. That
makes the management of plural devices quite complex and
inconvenient, especially in that situation that there are a great
amount of media devices.
[0004] Multimedia as it is used for presentation purposes covers a
wide range of displays, both audio and visual. There are programs
that can provide manipulation of devices. However, there is no
graphics program that allows easy and precise manipulation. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,933,807 to Fukuzawa shows how a displayed picture can be
manipulated by a generated sound signal.
[0005] Hence, to manage multiple media devices instantly, a more
efficient way should be provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of aforementioned problems, the present therefore
discloses a system and a method for synchronously controlling
multiple devices. With the system and method, a user could monitor
all of the devices that coupled to a media center, such as a
computer. Single user interface is provided for the user to manage
all devices, and the operation status of each device could be
monitored instantly.
[0007] According to one purpose of the present invention, a
computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable
instructions is disclosed. The computer-readable storage medium is
able to synchronously monitor and control at least one device by
performing the following steps, comprising: detecting the
connection status between a media center and the devices; obtaining
the operation status of each coupled device, wherein the operation
status is updated every predetermined period; generating an object
to present the operation status on a user interface, wherein the
user interface is displayed on a displayer coupled to the media
center; and showing the controlling panel and the content of the
selected device on the object of the user interface, wherein the
object includes at least two surfaces presenting at least two kinds
of information. The way to present the operation status may include
distinguishable colors of indicator lights, a progress bar, or a
preview window. The user interface may be a virtual rotatable
three-dimensional object, such as a polyhedron or a ball, which has
a first surface showing every operation status and a second surface
showing the controlling panel and the content of the selected
device. Besides, the types of the storage medium may include a CD,
a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a floppy disc, a hard disc, or memory.
[0008] According to another purpose of the present invention, a
system for synchronously controlling multiple devices is disclosed.
The system comprises plural devices, a media center for controlling
the multiple devices coupled thereto, a user interface generator
coupled to the media center for generating a user interface, an
object generator coupled to the media center for generating an
object on the user interface, wherein a first surface of the object
presents an operation status of the devices and the operation
status is updated in a predetermined period, a displayer coupled to
the media center for showing the user interface, and an input
apparatus coupled to the media center for selecting a selected
device, wherein a second surface of the object presents a control
panel and content of said selected device as the selected device is
designated via the input apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is the computer-readable storage medium according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is the flow chart showing the controlling process
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is the system block diagram according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows two surfaces of the user interface according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for
the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the
present invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting
same.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a computer-readable storage medium 10, and the
storage medium 10 has the computer-executable instructions for
synchronously monitoring and controlling multiple media devices. As
presented in the drawings, the storage medium 10 at least includes
three modules, which are the detecting module 101, the operation
status module 102, and the interface module 103. For those who are
skilled in the art, these modules may be computer programs or a
list of instructions. Besides, the types of storage medium 10
includes a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a floppy disc, a hard disc,
memory, or any means with the capability of storing digital
data.
[0015] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the computer-readable storage medium 10 is coupled to a
media center or constitutes a portion of the media center.
Referring to FIG. 2, the connection statuses of the media devices
coupled to a media center are detected by the detecting module 101
in step 20. The media devices include a CD-RW drive, a DVD-RW
drive, a DVD+RW drive, a Blu-ray drive, a VCD/DVD player, a DVD
recorder, a TV tuner, a MP3 player, a photo viewer, or any other
media player. It should be appreciated that the aforementioned
types of the media devices are merely enumerated to illustrate the
preferred embodiment, not to limit the present invention. The
present invention would encompass all possible kinds of media
devices. Besides, the media devices could couple to the media
center via any possible data-transferring cables or the wireless
transmission. In one embodiment of the present invention, certain
media devices may be coupled to the media center via the network or
Internet. Furthermore, the media center may be a computer or an
apparatus with capability of controlling plural media devices
synchronously. Controlling multiple media devices synchronously
implies that the instant operation status of each media device is
monitored and the operation of each media device is
manipulated.
[0016] Therefore, in order to control these media devices
synchronously, the operation statuses of them should be obtained by
the operation status module 102 in step 21. Moreover, the operation
statuses would be updated per predetermined period, preferably a
few seconds, to keep instant information. With these instant
operation statuses, the present invention then provides a user
interface with an object therein by the interface module 103 in
step 22. Such a user interface is able to present the operation
status of each coupled media device. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the method to indicate these operation statues
includes presenting the operation status by distinguishable colors,
a progress bar, or a preview window. For instance, as shown in
section 402 in FIG. 4, when a coupled DVD+RW drive is idle or
standby, its operation status may be presented as an indication
such as a little circle (simulating an indicator light) colored
green (407). As shown in section 403 in FIG. 4, when a coupled
DVD-RW drive is running, i.e. writing data into or reading data
from a DVD, its operation status may be presented as another
indication, for example, a little circle colored red (408) as well
as a progress bar showing the progress rate.
[0017] The interface module 103 is used not only for generating the
object and the user interface, but also managing the showing of the
generated object. That is, as one of the coupled media devices are
selected by a user via an input apparatus or device in step 23, the
showing of operation status would be switched to another showing
that indicates the content of the selected device in step 24. The
showing of the status and the content are illustrated in FIG. 4,
and their details would be described in the subsequent
description.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a system for synchronously monitoring and controlling multiple
media devices is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present
invention is shown in FIG. 3. The system 30 comprises a media
center 310, pluralities of media devices 321-325, a user interface
generator 370, an object generator 360, a displayer 331 for
displaying the user interface 330, and an input apparatus 340. The
media devices 321-325 are individually coupled to the media center
310 by wired or wireless connection. As described above, the
coupling way should be various, and four exemplary types are
illustrated in FIG. 3. The device A (321) is coupled to the media
center 310 via wireless network, the devices B and C (322 and 323)
are coupled to the media center 310 via the data-transmission
cables, and the device D (324) is coupled to the media center 310
through network such as Internet 350. In addition, the device E
(325) constitutes a portion of the media center 310, for example, a
DVD-RW drive (media device) installed in a computer (media center).
It should be appreciated that the aforementioned coupling way is
enumerated for illustration instead of limitation, and the present
invention would encompass any possible way to couple the media
device to the media center.
[0019] The displayer 331 is coupled to the media center 310 and
used to display the user interface 330. The input apparatus is
coupled to the media center 310 for selecting one of the coupled
media devices 321-325 and controlling the operation mode of the
selected device. The types of the displayer 331 may be any kinds of
display device, such as the LCD, the PDP, the CRT monitor, or a
projector, and the input apparatus may be any possible device with
the capability of inputting instructions, such as a mouse, a
keyboard, a keypad, a writing pad, a vocal control device or a
remote controller. It should be appreciated that the aforementioned
types of the displayer 331 and the input device 340 is enumerated
merely for illustration instead of limitation.
[0020] In FIG. 3, the user interface generator 370 would generate
the user interface, and the object generator 360 would generate a
cube object 330 with six surfaces on the user interface. For
example, the object may be created by the usage of certain
software, such as the Flash.RTM. MX of Macromedia Inc. The two
generators 360 and 370 are both coupled to the media center 310.
The method for generating the object on the interface is well-known
in the art, not the aspect of the present invention, and therefore,
the detailed description is omitted. Besides the cube, the object
330 could preferably be any kind of three-dimensional polygon
object with plural surfaces, such as a polyhedron, a ball, a
pentahedron, a cube, a square pyramid, a prism, or an octahedron.
In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the surfaces is
used to present the statue of each coupled devices, and remaining
surfaces are used to present the controlling panel or content of
certain coupled device. The number of surfaces is varied with the
demand of the user or the number of coupled media devices. In the
preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, one surface of the cube
object 330 is used as a main menu showing the operation status, as
shown in surface 40 of FIG. 4. Remaining five surfaces of the cube
330 correspond to the coupled five media devices 321-325,
respectively. The surface 41 of FIG. 4 represents one of the
remaining surfaces for illustration.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, two surfaces (presentations) 40 and 41
of the user interface 330 are demonstrated. In the preferred
embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the operation statuses of five coupled
media devices could be monitored concurrently. The surface 40 is
divided into five sections 401-405 and each section stands for one
individual media device. As we can see, the section 401 shows the
operation status of a music player which is playing a MP3 file
named melody.mp3, and the indicator light of the section 401 would
be red in order to show that this device (music player) is running.
The indicator lights 406-408 may be a circle with distinguishable
colors, and the pairing of the color and the situation is varied
with the demand of the user or other possible considerations. With
these indicator lights, the user could monitor all devices at once.
Besides, the way to present the operation statuses does not limited
to the indicator light or the progress bar, and the present
invention may comprise other types of expression, such as the
preview window. For instance, in section 403, the DVD-RW drive is
writing data into a disc, and therefore the indicator light 408
would be red as well as the progress bar shows that 80% of data
have been written. In section 404, the operation status of a
coupled TV tuner is presented, and a preview window is shown in
addition to the indicator light. Also, in section 405, the
operation status of an image viewer is shown. The image viewer may
be an application installed in a computer to demonstrate the image
stored in some storage coupled to that computer or a device with
the ability of capturing and keeping pictures in form of digital
files, such as a digital camera, a cellular phone with camera, or a
PDA with camera. The operation status of the image viewer is
presented by a thumbnail of certain image as well as an indicator
light, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0022] In one embodiment, the user interface's cube object 330 is a
polyhedron with plural surfaces. One of theses surfaces is used as
a main menu to present every operation status, and the main menu
would switch to the surface showing the content and the control
panel of a selected device as the selected device is chosen by the
user. For example, the user may use a mouse to control the cursor
to click on or apply a keyboard to designate the Music section 401
in surface 40. The main menu would be switched to the surface
showing the content (411 and 412) and the control panel (413) of
the music player. In the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the user interface 330 is a virtual rotatable
three-dimensional object, such as a cube. When certain device is
selected by using the input means, the rotatable cube 330 would
switch the surface showing every operation status to the surface
showing the content and the control panel of the selected device
with the visual effect of rotating one surface to another. The
visual effect of rotating is optional, and the present should
encompass all possible kinds of visual effect.
[0023] In surface 41, the content and control panel of the music
player is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
content includes the playlist 411 and the playing file 412, and the
control panel 413 provides plural bottoms to control the operation
of the player. If the selected device is a TV tuner, the content
may be the TV program and the control panel may be use to switch
channels and adjust the volume. The content and the control panel
would be varied with the characteristics of each media device, and
the aforementioned examples are cited merely for illustration
instead of limitation. The surface 41 may also include a return
bottom 414, and the user interface 330 would switch to main menu
(surface 40) as the user applies the input means to "press" the
return bottom 414.
[0024] With the present invention, the user could monitor all
devices at once and control certain media device in a simple and
convenient way. The concept of media center should base on not only
linking all devices together, but also supervising these devices
instantly and synchronously. Therefore, the present invention
facilitates the management of multiple media devices, especially of
a great amount of media devices.
[0025] As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the
foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are
illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the
present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications
and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of
the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and similar structure. While the preferred embodiment of the
invention has been illustrated and described, it will be
appreciated that various changes can be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *